Which traits do the best NBA coaches have?
With so many coaching variables and opinions on what makes a great NBA coach, it can be borderline-impossible to simply rank NBA coaches 1st through 30th. A very good coach for one situation and team might just be a fine or below-average coach in another setting. For this reason, on this tier list, there will be coaching rank ranges and coaching tiers rather than flat-out rankings. The following 10 traits will all be considered:
- Overall coaching experience and longevity with their current team
- Motivation and buy-in that the coach generates from players
- Standard Xs and Os coaching
- Aptitude to manage personalities and egos
- Player development
- Lineup decisions/substitution patterns
- In-game adjustments and gameplanning/scouting
- Ability to elevate poor teams to average teams (win/loss record considered)
- Ability to elevate average teams to great teams (playoff success as a coach considered)
- Ability to elevate great teams to championship-level teams (championships considered)
This past season, Mike Brown won the 2023 Coach of the Year after he helped lead the Sacramento Kings to a 48-34 record and their first playoff appearance since 2006. We also saw the 2022 Coach of the Year, Monty Williams, fired, along with Nick Nurse and Mike Budenholzer, both of whom have won Coach of the Year and an NBA title in the last five season. Proof that as situations change, oftentimes the coach changes as well.
Dwane Casey, Stephen Silas, and Doc Rivers rounded out the rest of the coaches who were relieved of their duties after the regular season. The NBA will now see six coaches entering their first year with a new organization, with two of the coaches (Adrian Griffin and Darko Rajakovic) being first-time NBA head coaches. Thinking about the 10 key factors that play into a coaches’ effectiveness, how do the current 30 head coaches stack up against each other as we enter the 2023-2024 season?
Format: (Coaching rank range) Coach – Team (coaching record, years with team)
Elite Coaches:
(1-3) Erik Spoelstra – Miami Heat (704-491 record, entering 16th year with MIA)
(1-3) Steve Kerr – Golden State Warriors (473-238 record, entering 10th year with GS)
(1-6) Greg Popovich – San Antonio Spurs (1366-761 record, entering 28th year with SA)
Very Good Coaches:
(3-6) Nick Nurse – Philadelphia 76ers (227-163 record, entering 1st year with PHI)
(4-9) Michael Malone – Denver Nuggets (406-337 record, entering 9th year with DEN)
(4-9) Ty Lue – Los Angeles Clippers (261-186 record, entering 4th year with LAC)
Good Coaches:
(6-11) Mike Brown – Sacramento Kings (395-250 record, entering 2nd year with SAC)
(7-13) Taylor Jenkins – Memphis Grizzlies (179-130 record, entering 5th year with MEM)
(7-14) Rick Carlisle – Indiana Pacers (896-793 record, entering 3rd year with IND)
(7-14) Frank Vogel – Phoenix Suns (431-389 record, entering 1st year with PHX)
(8-14) Ime Udoka – Houston Rockets (51-31 record, entering 1st year with HOU)
(9-16) Quin Snyder – Atlanta Hawks (385-279 record, entering 2nd year with ATL)
(9-16) Monty Williams – Detroit Pistons (367-333 record, entering 1st year with DET)
(10-18) Will Hardy – Utah Jazz (37-45 record, entering 2nd year with UTA)
Fine Coaches:
(12-18) Mark Daigneault – Oklahoma City Thunder (86-150 record, entering 4th year with OKC)
(13-18) Tom Thibodeau – New York Knicks (477-357 record, entering 4th year with NYK)
(13-20) JB Bickerstaff – Cleveland Cavaliers (207-256 record, entering 5th year with CLE)
(14-21) Darvin Ham – Los Angeles Lakers (43-39 record, entering 2nd year with LAL)
(15-22) Billy Donovan – Chicago Bulls (360-276 record, entering 4th year with CHI)
(15-23) Jacque Vaughn – Brooklyn Nets (108-193 record, entering 2nd year with BKN)
(16-23) Willie Green – New Orleans Pelicans (78-86 record, entering 3rd year with NOP)
(17-25) Jason Kidd – Dallas Mavericks (273-264 record, entering 3rd year with DAL)
Below-Average/Unproven Coaches:
(18-30) Adrian Griffin – Milwaukee Bucks (0-0 record, entering 1st year with MIL)
(18-30) Darko Rajakovic – Toronto Raptors (0-0 record, entering 1st year with TOR)
(19-27) Joe Mazzulla – Boston Celtics (57-25 record, entering 2nd year with BOS)
(19-27) Wes Unseld Jr – Washington Wizards (70-94 record, entering 3rd year with WAS)
(20-28) Chris Finch – Minnesota Timberwolves (104-101 record, entering 4th year with MIN)
(22-30) Jamahl Mosley – Orlando Magic (56-108 record, entering 3rd year with ORL)
(23-30) Chauncey Billups – Portland Trail Blazers (60-104 record, entering 3rd year with POR)
(23-30) Steve Clifford – Charlotte Hornets (319-400 record, entering 2nd year with CHA)